Mountain Phoenix Community School

This school is lacking so many key components that its sad. Please don't be fooled by all their marketing tactics look else where before paying the high fees.They are quick to say all the right things but don't or can't deliver. The stuff that goes on at this school is just too much everything is last minute. The biggest thing holding this school back is the principal she has no idea how to effectively deal with children,parents and staff she is inconsistent on many levels and due to her lack of leadership I withdrew my daughter after ongoing bullying issuess and Teacher concerns that were never adressed.
--Submitted by a parent

I have children in both pre-k and k at MPCS Wheatridge campus. Both the children absolutely love going to school. I have been very impressed in the teachers and the love of learning they are instilling in the children. They have thought the children to respect themselves and others. I feel the school and it's staff has done a wonderful job in setting a positive foundation for the children and their education.
--Submitted by a parent

My daughter attends the Coal Creek Canyon Campus, and I couldn't imagine a better place for her to begin her education. A Waldorf-inspired education can benefit children at any level, developing their strengths and supporting any weaknesses though their focus on the whole child: head, heart and hand. While budgetary restrictions are forcing many schools to drastically reduce arts and sciences in the curriculum, those subjects are integral to the students' day at Mountain Phoenix. The teachers and staff have excellent credentials and create a warm atmosphere for the children to learn in a caring environment. The classrooms are small, with mixed grade levels. The teachers are diligent about carefully assessing each child and guiding them to work at their fullest potential in each subject. I don't know yet where my daughter will go to school after 8th grade, but I know after the wonderful foundation she'll have received at Mountain Pheonix, she'll be ready to go anywhere!
--Submitted by a parent

My son has been here for three years. After "hating" school before coming to MPCS, he has reclaimed a happy excitement towards learning! The classes that are taught aren't just the "boring" academic stuff (although my child is well above expected levels), the arts, music and specialty classes (Rocketry in particular) supports my son in so many ways. He actually LOVES learning and going to school.
--Submitted by a parent

My children attend Mountain Phoenix Community School in Coal Creek Canyon. This is their fifth year and they love it. They are thriving in this small, community oriented learning environment. Both have grown so much in their love of learning and their sense of who they are as individuals. The Waldorf teaching methods bring the curriculum alive for the children and the arts infused learning makes it fun while training their minds in ways the neighborhood schools have all but lost. This is a very special campus with fresh air and beautiful mountain charm. It may not be for everyone, but it has been an amazing blessing in our lives!
--Submitted by a parent

We have been at MCPS (mountain campus) for 2yrs and our experience has been a positive one. It is a school that believes in the well-being of the whole child and the small size allows the teachers, staff and families to all know each other and lends itself to a great sense of community. The academic portions of the day are presented both traditionally and experientially where appropriate. I appreciate the fact that the entire school day does not revolve around straight academics, there is music/art almost every day and two recesses that allow for physical activity. These things are critical in a child s day to allow them to really learn during their time in the classroom. This year Hobby and Service classes were offered as well. Not every school is a fit for every child/family, but I would encourage parents looking for an alternative education for their child to meet the people at MPCS and judge for themselves. You can t make an informed decision about a school from its test scores and website commentary. A school is more than that. Leadership has a lot of room for growth, but I don t believe there is a group of teachers more committed to their children.
--Submitted by a parent

The Mountain Phoenix Coal Creek Campus has been a life saver for my son. We were underwhelmed by two neighborhood public schools so tried a wonderful private school, only to have that school close due to financial problems. We brought our son ( after constant meetings, and phone calls, and e-mails with past teachers) up to to the Mountain Phoenix Coal Creek Campus (a public charter school). He found a sense of calm in the wooded mountains that surrounds the school as well as the CCC staff. All of the teachers at the CCC are well trained and have years of experience under their belts. The classrooms are small and there is a lot of hands on, experiential learning. My son can't wait to go to school in the morning. Last night he couldn't wait to get his homework done so he could earn points to attend Mr. Smith's Rocketry class (building rockets). You could say we a family that doesn't quite fit in the traditional public school mold. The Mountain Phoenix Coal Creek Campus has taught my son the traditional academic line, but through treasure hunts. He has learned how to play the viola, and even to knit. I can't believe how lucky we are to have found this public charter!
--Submitted by a parent

We enrolled our daughter at Mt. Phoenix. They promised bus transport from Wheat Ridge to the Coal Creek Canyon Campus, we thought, this is good. Then they told the eighth graders no ball point pens were used & no media presentations would be used in the classroom, we thought, that s odd. On the first day of school, there was no bus and no notification that five students would be jammed into a teacher's Buick, we thought, What s going on here? Then, our child and her best friend were repeatedly bullied. The teacher and principle told us it was my child s fault, we said, Enough! This is a little school in a remote canyon that operates on its own set of rules. I m sorry but I thought that when funded by tax payers, the school had to be worthy of that support! In our opinion, Mt. Phoenix is failing in that mission. Our child was suspended AFTER the October student count. I looked for another school. Everything was infinitely better once we found out about Alpine Valley School. This is best kept secret in Wheat Ridge. For us it was the only logical choice. If you haven t considered this option, you owe it to your child to look into this unique educational alternative!
--Submitted by a parent

WORST SCHOOL EVER! We were so traumatized by our experience with this so called school. 12 people that I know of also left this school of 60. Quite a significant percentage.
--Submitted by a parent

I had my grandsons there, the first year, they were wonderful and truly wanted to help them and help them become the best they could be. The following year after a admin change, they changed drastically. They no longer seemed to care about the children as much. Seemed more interested in who brought the money with them. One of the upper grads teacher actually lied to and about me and had me removed from the games day. One of my grandson was being terribly abused and all I heard from them was "well, you don't know the whole story" and that was after I was on the playground for recess every day. There are other people who feel the way I do. They are back in the public school and are doing good. But because the education at this school was not up to par, they are behind and the new teachers are trying and doing a good job. I would not recommend this school.
--Submitted by a parent